Yomiuri Giants outfielder Takayuki Shimizu refused an offer for a 72 million yen salary raise to 180 million yen Friday after coming within one hit of a Central League record this year. Shimizu, who as the Yomiuri leadoff man had 191 hits and a .314 average, hopes for an annual salary of 200 million yen in the next round of negotiations scheduled for Tuesday.
Yomiuri also signed Japan Series MVP Tomohiro Nioka to a new one-year deal worth 80 million yen, up 39 million yen. Infielder Toshihisa Nishi accepted a 10 million yen decrease to 170 million yen while infielder Daisuke Motoki re-signed for 132 million yen, down 8 million yen.
Elsewhere, the Daiei Hawks re-signed infielder Tadahito Iguchi, whose season was plagued by elbow and shoulder injuries, for an 80 million yen salary after a 40 million yen cut.